£17.5bn
£XXX.Xm
50,992
3,806
£X.Xbn
Hardware, plumbing and heating equipment wholesalers' revenue is sensitive to the construction sector's cyclical nature and movements in household disposable income. Purchase costs mainly influence profitability, which depends on factors like the exchange rate, supply chain disruptions and trade frictions. The COVID-19 pandemic halted work on construction sites and contractors reduced their work, denting demand for plumbing and heating equipment. Construction output has recovered strongly since its pandemic-driven downturn, helping revenue bounce back.
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £17.5bn in 2024.
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (£m)
2025 |
---|---|---|
Wolseley UK Ltd | 1,062.3 | |
Grafton Group plc | 360.4 | |
Travis Perkins plc | 226.1 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Hand tools, Fixtures and fittings and Water heaters. Hand tools is the largest segment of the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling in the UK.
Downstream incentives drive demand for plumbing fixtures
Companies in this industry wholesale various hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies, including locks, water heaters, fitting fixtures, plumbing fixtures, taps and valves and tools like hammers and screwdrivers.
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SIC 46.74 - Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling in the UK
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Price competition constrains the profitability of wholesalers. Intense price competition between industry wholesalers and external suppliers (like manufacturers) prompts whol...
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Plumbing fixtures offer the largest source of revenue. Demand for plumbing fixtures is rising thanks to the expansion of the Heat Network, whose projects need many tubes and ...
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
The South East boasts the highest share of wholesalers. The region benefits from its proximity to London, offering wholesalers access to a large and lucrative market at a low...
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Wholesalers mainly compete on price. Competitive pricing is key to keeping sales flowing because it attracts new buyers and maintains loyalty with existing ones.
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Wolseley UK saw its revenue plummet during COVID-19. The drop in construction activity hit the company’s sales and ate into its returns, despite its stores remaining open for...
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Wholesalers face few industry-specific regulations. They largely sidestep product specifications as these are put on manufacturers. The few rules wholesalers do face are focu...
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Climbing construction output lifts profitability. According to the ONS, total construction new orders is growing, driven by private commercial new work and infrastructure new...
Including values and annual change:
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Key data sources in the UK include:
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The market size of the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £17.5bn in 2024.
There are 3,806 businesses in the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.6 % between 2019 and 2024.
The market size of the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2019 and 2024.
Over the next five years, the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.
The biggest companies operating in the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling market in United Kingdom are Wolseley UK Ltd, Grafton Group plc and Travis Perkins plc
Plumbing fixtures and Hand tools are part of the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling in the UK industry.
The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is Wolseley UK Ltd.
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom.